Number plate for automobiles



Jan; 22, 1924. 1,481,768

F. J. WILLIAMS NUMBER PLATE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Jan. 9, 1925 Patented 22, 1924.

v um'rao sures 3 FRANK J. WILLIAMS, MAGY, INDIANA NUMBER P LA'IE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed January 9, 1923. Serial No. 611,616.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK J. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Macy, in the county of Miami and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Number Plate for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification. The device. forming the subject matter of this application is a motor vehicle license plate, and the invention aims to provide novel means whereby it will be unnecessary to throw away the entire number plate every year, the device being light, strong, durable,

and inexpensive to make, transport and maintain.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance. the utility of devices of that type to which the invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description pro- "ceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that, Within thescope of what is claimed, changes in the precise embodiment of the. invention v shown can be made without departing from thes'p irit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 shows in elevation, a device constructed in accordance withthe invention; Figure 2 is a section on'the line 2-2 of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a fragmental elevation showing a modification;

a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a plan of one of the numerals which are stamped from the main plate.

In Figure 1, the numeral 1 designates a main plate, ordinarily made of aluminum and provided with'characters 2 which indicate the number of thelicense, the characters preferably being in the form offigures cut through the plate 1, after the manner of a stencil. Adjacent to its lower edge the main plate 1 is provided with slots or openings 4.]

- At its ends, the plate 1 may be supplied with openings 3. Slots or openings 5 are formed in the-plate1,,near to the upper edge thereof and in theupper edge of the plate 1, there are notches 6. The openings 3 may be used to attach to the plate 1, supplemental plates marked dealer, agent, etc., as required by law in some states. The openings 4, or some of them, and. some of the openings 5 g of the drawings.

Figure 4 is may be used for'the purpose of attaching the plate to the car. The device includes an auxiliary plate 7, which may also be made of aluminum if desired, the auxiliary'plate 7 having letters 8 indicating the State in which the license is. granted. The letters 8 may be cut through the auxiliary plate 7 or may be formed in any other suitable way thereon.

A secondary plate 9 isprovided, the. same having numerals 10 indicating the year in which the license wasgranted. The numbers 10 may be cut or stenciled into the plate 9 or may be fashioned thereon in any other suitable way. The plates 7 and 9 have bendable fingers 11, engaged in certain of the notches 6 and in certain of the slots 5, the. fingers being bent to engage the rear surface of the plate 1 as shown clearly in Figure 2 In Figure 3, the main plate is denoted by the numeral 12 and the secondary plate by the numeral 14, the main plate having an opening 15 for the reception of the platel, the plate 14'being held in the opening 15 of the plate 12 by rivets 16, engaged with the two plates as shown in Figure 4. The characters on the plate 14 are indicated by the numeral 17 and may be cut therethrough.

In practical operation, the main plate 1 is retained from year to year on the automobile. It is necessary merely to mail the small plate 9 for mounting on the main plate 1, and, in this vway a marked saving will be effected, both in the way of postage and in the way of material, since the plate 1 is not destroyed each year.

In the drawing, the legend indicated at 2- in Figure 1 is shown as consisting of six numerals. If there are less than six 'numerals, the, plate 7 may be moved to the right, the fingers 11 being-engaged in the corresponding slots 5 and in the corresponding notches 6 the length of the plate being decreased and the cost of the device being 100 out down. a

One of the figures stamped from the plate 1 isshown in Figure 5 and is there denoted by the numeral 25. It will be noted that the element 25 is perfect in form and may be 1 used as a street number on va house, or for i any other like purpose. These numbers being capable of sale as an article of manu facture, cut down the cost of the plate 1, since the material struck from the plate is not wasted. As a result of theiprocess c0n-,

templated by this application,two-complete .merchantable articles are producedfeach of which decreases the cost of the otherysince practically no material goes to waste,

The plate 1, made of aluminum; :with

stenciled characters, will remain v readablevided with openings and with notche'sin one of its edges, and an auxiliary plate havingmeans for engaging certain of the openings and certain of the notches, the openings being spaced at equal distances apart, throughout theentire length of the main plate and the-notches being spaced at equal distances apart throughout the entirelength of the main plate, to permit the auxiliary plate to be shifted longitudinally'of the main plate, and to permit the main plate to be cut off at the desired length, depending upon the number of characters on the mam plate.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature 1n the presence of two Witnesses.

FRANK J. WILLIAMS.

Witnesses:

CHARLES WILLIAMs, W. E. Sums. 

